Singapore Airlines Reinforces Its Position As The World’s Best Airline With An Expanding A350 Fleet, Connecting Key Global Destinations With Seamless Luxury And Cutting-Edge Service

Published on December 8, 2025

As the world’s largest operator of Airbus A350 aircraft, Singapore Airlines has set a new standard in long-haul and ultra-long range air travel, offering unmatched comfort and connectivity. With its fleet of 65 A350s and 72 firm orders, the airline dominates key international routes, providing passengers with luxurious, efficient service on some of the longest nonstop flights in the world. The airline’s commitment to advanced technology and customer service makes it a global leader in aviation, redefining the long-haul experience for travelers.

Singapore Airlines (SQ) leads the world in operating the Airbus A350, with a fleet of 65 aircraft from Changi Airport (SIN), making it the largest A350 operator globally. The airline also holds 72 firm orders for the aircraft, placing it fourth in the world behind Turkish Airlines, Air France, and Qatar Airways. The A350 fleet is used for a wide range of routes, from quick flights like Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to ultra-long nonstop services connecting Singapore to New York (JFK) and Newark (EWR). With its three variants, the A350 makes up 45% of the airline’s passenger fleet.

A350 Variants

Singapore Airlines operates three distinct variants of the Airbus A350-900: Medium Haul, Long Haul, and Ultra Long Range (ULR). These variants are designed for different routes, optimizing capacity and range. The Long Haul variant entered service in 2016, replacing Boeing 777-300ERs on European routes. The ULR variant was introduced in 2018 and is used for long, nonstop flights such as Singapore to Newark and Los Angeles. The Medium Haul variant debuted in late 2018, providing more flexibility for routes such as those to Adelaide.

In December 2025, A350 aircraft will operate 42% of all flights, with 70% of those lasting over 9 hours, showcasing the importance of this fleet in the airline’s operations.

Routes and Flight Durations

The A350 fleet covers a wide variety of routes. The shortest flight operated by the A350 is SQ106, between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which takes just 1 hour and 5 minutes. On the other hand, the longest flight, SQ21 from Newark to Singapore, takes about 19 hours and 10 minutes. This demonstrates the versatility of the A350, which is used for both short regional flights and the world’s longest nonstop services.

Detailed Specifications

Here’s a unique and powerful breakdown of the specifications using bullet points:

• Launch Date:
• Medium Haul: December 17, 2018
• Long Haul: March 9, 2016
• Ultra Long Range (ULR): October 11, 2018
• Inaugural Service Route:
• Medium Haul: Adelaide (ADL)
• Long Haul: Amsterdam (AMS)
• ULR: Newark (EWR)
• Registration Series:
• Medium Haul: 9V-SH_
• Long Haul: 9V-SM_ / 9V-SJ_
• ULR: 9V-SG_
• Fleet Size:
• Medium Haul: 24 aircraft
• Long Haul: 34 aircraft
• ULR: 7 aircraft
• Operational Destinations:
• Medium Haul: 24 destinations
• Long Haul: 28 destinations
• ULR: 3 destinations
• Shortest Flight Duration:
• Medium Haul: Kuala Lumpur (KUL, 1 hour 5 minutes)
• Long Haul: Kuala Lumpur (KUL, 1 hour 5 minutes)
• ULR: San Francisco (SFO, 14 hours 40 minutes)
• Longest Flight Duration:
• Medium Haul: Brisbane (BNE, 8 hours)
• Long Haul: Los Angeles (LAX, 17 hours 50 minutes)
• ULR: Newark (EWR, 19 hours 10 minutes)
• Average Flight Time:
• Medium Haul: 4 hours 38 minutes
• Long Haul: 8 hours 20 minutes
• ULR: 17 hours 43 minutes
• Business Class Seating:
• Medium Haul: 40 seats (2018 RJ, 1-2-1 layout)
• Long Haul: 42 seats (2013 J, 1-2-1 layout)
• ULR: 67 seats (2013 J, 1-2-1 layout)
• Premium Economy Seating:
• Medium Haul: None
• Long Haul: 24 seats (2015 PY)
• ULR: 94 seats (2018 PY)
• Economy Class Seating:
• Medium Haul: 263 seats (2017 Y)
• Long Haul: 187 seats (2013 Y or 2017 Y)
• ULR: None
• Total Seating Capacity:
• Medium Haul: 303 seats
• Long Haul: 253 seats
• ULR: 161 seats
• Wi-Fi Technology:
• Medium Haul: GX Ka-band
• Long Haul: Panasonic Ku-band
• ULR: Panasonic Ku-band
• In-Flight Entertainment:
• Medium Haul: Thales Avant
• Long Haul: Panasonic eX3
• ULR: Panasonic eX3
• Maximum Takeoff Weight:
• Medium Haul: 250 tons
• Long Haul: 268–280 tons
• ULR: 280 tons
• Engine Configuration:
• Medium Haul: Trent XWB-75 or XWB-84
• Long Haul: Trent XWB-84
• ULR: Trent XWB-84
• Engine Thrust (per unit):
• Medium Haul: 74,200 lb or 84,200 lb
• Long Haul: 84,200 lb
• ULR: 84,200 lb
• Cargo Hold Volume:
• Medium Haul: 172.4 cubic meters
• Long Haul: 172.4 cubic meters
• ULR: 85.7 cubic meters
• Maximum Flight Range:
• Medium Haul: ~6,000 nautical miles
• Long Haul: 7,270–8,100 nautical miles
• ULR: 9,700 nautical miles
• Engine Variants:
• Medium Haul: First 4 aircraft (9V-SHA to 9V-SHD) feature XWB-84 engines; later models use XWB-75 engines
• Long Haul: All aircraft use Trent XWB-84 engines
• ULR: All variants are powered by Trent XWB-84 engines

This bullet-point format emphasizes key specifications with strong, impactful language, making it both easy to read and informative.

Long Haul Operations and Sub-Variants

The Long Haul variant consists of 34 aircraft and serves a range of destinations. These aircraft include sub-variants such as Lite, Standard, and Plus, each offering different capacities and ranges. The Lite sub-variant features a range of 7,270 nm, while the Plus variant can reach up to 8,100 nm, operating all flights to cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. The Standard sub-variant falls in between, with a range of 7,750 nm.

Ultra Long Range (ULR) Operations

Singapore Airlines exclusively operates the A350 ULR, designed for the longest nonstop flights, such as those between Singapore (SIN) and Newark (EWR), or Singapore (SIN) and Los Angeles (LAX). The ULR variant can fly a distance of up to 9,700 nm, which is among the longest nonstop commercial flights available. To achieve this range, the ULR variant features additional fuel tanks and a reduced payload to increase fuel capacity.

Onboard Experience

Singapore Airlines ensures that the A350 provides an exceptional travel experience, with modern amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi and the latest in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. Medium Haul A350s use GX Ka-band Wi-Fi, while Long Haul and ULR variants use Panasonic Ku-band. Live TV is available on Long Haul and ULR variants, allowing passengers to stay connected during their flight.

Business Class on the Medium Haul A350 features Stelia Aerospace seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 layout, providing ample privacy and direct aisle access. The Long Haul and ULR variants offer similarly high standards, with Business Class seating in a 1-2-1 configuration as well.

Fleet Expansion and Future Plans

Singapore Airlines continues to expand its A350 fleet. The airline recently sold and leased back several medium-haul aircraft, generating over S$2 billion in liquidity. Additionally, Singapore Airlines is planning to introduce A350 freighters in 2027, replacing its Boeing 747-400 freighters. This move will further strengthen the airline’s position in long-haul travel and cargo operations.

By operating the world’s largest Airbus A350 fleet, Singapore Airlines ensures unmatched service and efficiency, offering passengers seamless travel on the longest nonstop routes with cutting-edge technology.

With more A350s on order and the introduction of the A350 freighter, Singapore Airlines remains at the forefront of the aviation industry, offering unparalleled service and efficiency for both passengers and cargo. This growth ensures that the airline will continue to lead in providing premium service on long-haul flights well into the future.